Branded

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Asana BioSciences, a research and development company specializing in the discovery and development of new chemical and biological entities, on Tuesday announced that it has acquired an early stage branded pharmaceutical discovery platform from Endo Pharmaceuticals. Asana's portfolio is comprised of multiple compounds for oncology and pain indications that are ready to enter clinical trials, the company said.

ARLINGTON, Va. — HDMA on Tuesday honored pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers at its 2014 Business and Leadership Conference in Phoenix, through the presentation of the Association’s annual Distribution Industry Awards for Notable Achievements in Healthcare (the DIANA awards). 

NEW DELHI — Indian drug maker Wockhardt has been charged by the Food and Drug Administration with utilizing the same unapproved method to test drug quality in its Morton Grove, Ill., facility as two facilities in India, both of which were subsequently banned from importing into the United States,the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

SAN ANTONIO — Mission Pharmacal on Thursday announced that it has begun the promotion of Elestrin (estradiol gel) 0.06% in the United States through an agreement with Meda AB. The drug is a used as a topical hormone replacement gel to help treat hot flashes caused by menopause.

The addition of Elestrin both complements and expands Mission Pharmacal's existing line of products for women, which includes such products as prescription prenatal vitamins, a bone health product, anti-infectives, an iron supplement and a urinary analgesic.

NEWARK, Calif. — Depomed on Wednesday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing a new drug application from Mallinckrodt for MNK-155. MNK-155 is an investigational, extended-release oral formulation of hydrocodone and acetaminophen that has been studied for the management of moderate to moderately severe acute pain where the use of an opioid analgesic is appropriate.  MNK-155 is formulated with Depomed's Acuform drug delivery technology. 

SAN FRANCISCO — There may be a connection between taking vasodilators and developing early-stage, age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans who are ages 65 and older, according to a study published online Wednesday in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

TORONTO — Trimel Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Natesto (testosterone), formerly CompleoTRT, the first and only testosterone nasal gel for replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. 

Natesto is self-administered via a nasal applicator, thereby minimizing the risk of secondary exposure to testosterone of women or children.